Compare towns
Berkshire vs Enosburgh vs Ripton vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berkshire has the youngest population (median age 31.6).
Enosburgh has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Berkshire | Enosburgh | Ripton | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,745 |
2,804Highest |
508Lowest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 31.6±6.9Lowest 27% below VT |
40.6±3.9 6% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Ripton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
21%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Berkshire and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.8%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22% VT: 43.8% |
20.1% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,406±$21k 12% below VT |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Ripton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $244,600±$26k 23% below VT |
$223,100±$39kLowest 30% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,525±$267Highest 24% above VT |
$852±$87Lowest 31% below VT |
— | $1,286±$379 4% above VT |
| Berkshire and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
$3,624 28% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±52.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Berkshire and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
13.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% VT: 73.2% |
75.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 37% above VT |
32 min 36% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #26 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.